Madonna "loathes" hydrangeas.

The 53-year-old star - who is well known for her diva-like behaviour, once commenting she wouldn't continue with an interview until a window was opened - let slip she did not like the flowering plant after being handed one at her press conference for movie 'W.E.' at the Venice Film Festival.

Clearly thinking her on-stage microphone was turned off, Madonna accepted the flower from a man with a polite "thank you", before turning to her side and saying: "I absolutely loathe hydrangeas. He obviously doesn't know that."

However, one species of flower the 'Celebration' hitmaker does like is roses.

Madonna demanded white roses be placed in her dressing room at the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend festival in 2008, much to the irritation of organisers.

The singer requested a helicopter take her just 37 miles to the venue in Maidstone, Kent, from her home in London.

A source said: "She had special Kabbalah water shipped in and demanded bouquets of white roses. While she only ate fresh fruit, the same can't be said of her friends.

"They arrived early and wolfed down free food and alcohol reserved for all the artists."